Post by mountainsounds on Dec 31, 2015 13:21:49 GMT -8
Well thanks to this forum and to bbiwer specifically, we acquired a 1955 Starfire, the PO’s had the title and they were serious about the OBO. ☺ Not a Shasta as suspected by many of you Shasta aficionados. The Starfire was manufactured by Kurmann Mfg Co, the same company that made the Fireball, the logos are very similar.
We hadn’t found this trailer in our own searching of ebay or CL (where it was also listed) since we weren’t looking for a Shasta. The PO didn’t use any of our other search terms in their listing. Our second ideal trailer looks just like this one. Small, very canned ham mid 1950’s trailer, frame off, most parts/cabinetry intact, not a crazy price and within reasonable driving distance. The trailer was located at 4,000 ft so there was plenty of snow and ice, which nearly derailed the whole adventure. But the PO’s got the trailer out of their steep driveway and brought it to us where the road was clear.
Road conditions:
Getting hooked up. Tows very well, it’s smaller and lighter than the Rainbow, it barely feels like it’s back there:
The inspection:
Kitchen:
Bakelite pulls:
Aluminum cabinet hardware, I’m going to enjoy polishing these:
Wood trim at panel seams and between the back and side-walls instead of gimp. Looks to be original.
Banquette seating, I’ve seen this vinyl pattern in a Westerner, others?
Gas lamp, missing parts:
I’m not sure we’ll keep the interior fully original. The table and kitchen formica has the same pattern but different colors. It’s not harmonious. There’s formica under the front window. If it’s not original, it’s been there for a couple of decades. It’s coming off regardless. The back splash is not original. Etc, etc, some things need to be improved.
The skin is in good shape. We’re not going to fully reskin this one. One panel might get replaced. Not sure about the roof. There is extensive visible wood rot which means it’s going to be even more scary underneath. I suspect it will need all new framing.
Our neighbors have already come around to look at the Starfire this morning, most think we’re seriously crazy and some are wondering where it’s going. We're putting it into storage until we’re ready to work on it. First, we need to build a covered work-space…out of the elements and closer to the shop. We’re planning to take a long time fixing this one, we want to camp in the Rainbow and not work almost every single weekend on a trailer. But, it’s nice knowing we have a project, not that we really needed one. Yikes, what have we done?
We hadn’t found this trailer in our own searching of ebay or CL (where it was also listed) since we weren’t looking for a Shasta. The PO didn’t use any of our other search terms in their listing. Our second ideal trailer looks just like this one. Small, very canned ham mid 1950’s trailer, frame off, most parts/cabinetry intact, not a crazy price and within reasonable driving distance. The trailer was located at 4,000 ft so there was plenty of snow and ice, which nearly derailed the whole adventure. But the PO’s got the trailer out of their steep driveway and brought it to us where the road was clear.
Road conditions:
Getting hooked up. Tows very well, it’s smaller and lighter than the Rainbow, it barely feels like it’s back there:
The inspection:
Kitchen:
Bakelite pulls:
Aluminum cabinet hardware, I’m going to enjoy polishing these:
Wood trim at panel seams and between the back and side-walls instead of gimp. Looks to be original.
Banquette seating, I’ve seen this vinyl pattern in a Westerner, others?
Gas lamp, missing parts:
I’m not sure we’ll keep the interior fully original. The table and kitchen formica has the same pattern but different colors. It’s not harmonious. There’s formica under the front window. If it’s not original, it’s been there for a couple of decades. It’s coming off regardless. The back splash is not original. Etc, etc, some things need to be improved.
The skin is in good shape. We’re not going to fully reskin this one. One panel might get replaced. Not sure about the roof. There is extensive visible wood rot which means it’s going to be even more scary underneath. I suspect it will need all new framing.
Our neighbors have already come around to look at the Starfire this morning, most think we’re seriously crazy and some are wondering where it’s going. We're putting it into storage until we’re ready to work on it. First, we need to build a covered work-space…out of the elements and closer to the shop. We’re planning to take a long time fixing this one, we want to camp in the Rainbow and not work almost every single weekend on a trailer. But, it’s nice knowing we have a project, not that we really needed one. Yikes, what have we done?
